Days passed, and our married life with Gio was still going well. There were times when I was genuinely scared of him, but there were also moments when I saw a different, caring side of Gio that he only showed to me.
Gio didn't replace Mariana as my bodyguard. I had also asked him not to dismiss Mariana from her duties. I honestly didn't expect him to listen. However, whenever I left the house, my security was incredibly tight.
"I'm heading to my father's house. I'm going to visit them. I've already informed Gio," I told Dario as I faced them."
My father invited us to their house. Gio was supposed to come with me, but he had a meeting and couldn't make it. My father was expecting him to be there, so I'll have to explain the situation later.
Even though I didn't really want to go back there, I knew I had to show respect to my parents. Plus, I would get to see Sienna, so I was looking forward to it. I didn't think anything bad would happen. I wasn't planning on staying the night.
Dario nodded at me and promptly escorted me out of the house, along with my bodyguards. We headed to my father's house.
Aunt Elsie and Papa greeted me. My father was initially smiling until he noticed that I was the only one who got out of the car.
"Papa," I greeted him and hugged him. I quickly turned to Aunt Elsie, especially when I realized that my father wasn't returning the hug. "Aunty..."
Aunt Elsie hugged me and expressed how delighted she was to see me.
"You look stunning, dear!" Aunt Elsie said to me. I smiled even wider at her compliment.
"Where's your husband, Amelie?" My father's tone turned sharp, making me alarmed.
"He's at the office. He's busy, so he won't be able to make it," I stammered.
Papa's gaze turned stern when he looked at me, but he didn't voice his disappointment because of my bodyguards.
"Is that so?" My father forced a fake smile at me, probably aware that Dario was watching. "That's too bad. In any case, let's go inside. The food is ready."
We started heading inside the house, but my father stopped when he noticed Dario and the others following me.
"You don't have to follow her inside our house. Nothing will happen to her inside our home, right?" My father said.
Dario and my bodyguards looked at me, waiting for my response. I didn't want to leave them here because I knew I would be safer with them. The real threat to me wasn't outside the house, but the owner of the house himself-my father.
In the end, I gave Dario a tight smile and told them to stay. I knew the situation would only escalate if I insisted on my way. In the end, we'd all end up worse. I didn't want to anger my father further, especially since it seemed he didn't like the news that Gio wasn't with me today.
Again, I am in this house. The house I grew up in but the house I desperately want to escape. The house I should love but consider a prison.
When I heard the door close, fear consumed me.
"Ouch, Dad!" I cried out in pain as my father gripped my arm tightly. He pulled me into the living room.
His grip on my arm was strong and harsh, and he didn't seem to mind that I was on the verge of tears due to the pain.
"What did I tell you? Bring your husband, right? What's the point of your visit here if he's not with you?"
My father's eyes burned with anger. Aunty quickly followed us to prevent Papa from hurting me.
"Is there really a difference if I come here alone without Gio-"
"There is!" My father shouted at me. "I don't care if you never come back here or if you never show up! What I want is to talk to your husband. He needs to know that we appreciate him! He's the future of our company! We need to please him because the future of our company depends on him!"
"Papa, I'm hurting," I said. Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip on me even more.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Even though I wanted to break free, the more I struggled in his grip, the tighter he held onto me.
"The next time you defy me, this won't be the only thing you'll get from me. If you think you're free because you're no longer in this house, as long as my blood runs in you, you will never escape me. When I say bring your husband, if you have to force him to come, do it! Do you understand?!"
I couldn't respond; my sobs overwhelmed me.
"Answer me, Millie!"
"Yes," my words stumbled out as he yelled at me again, fearing that he might do more if I didn't speak.
My father released me and left for the dining area. Aunt Elsie quickly came to me and hugged me. In this house, we had no power against my father. He was the law, and I was the only one he hurt.
I calmed myself while Aunt embraced me. I used to think he would stop hurting me. I used to believe that when I married Gio, he'd be pleased with me. But no matter what I did, he'd never see the right things I did and would only notice the wrong.
I just want to be loved by my father. Is it that hard for him to love me?
"Let's eat!"
Aunt led me to the dining area when we heard my father's voice. Even though I had no appetite, I forced myself to eat.
Sienna arrived late, so I was able to compose myself. I acted like my father hadn't done anything to me. You could really see who his favorite child was. While he was killing me with his eyes every time I spoke, all I heard him say were praises for my younger sibling.
I was happy he didn't hurt my sibling, but sometimes I couldn't hide my envy. Sometimes, I wished my father would love me the way he loved my sibling.
I made sure I looked okay before leaving the house. Only Sienna and Aunt Elsie escorted me outside. I got into the car and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the car moving away from that house.
I whimpered softly when I felt the pain in my arm. It seemed my father had left a bruise. I needed to check it when I got home.
That was the first thing I did when I arrived. I went to the bathroom in our room and examined the condition of my arm. I closed my eyes when I saw the mark from my father's tight grip. I had a bruise on my arm, and it was quite large. Fortunately, it was hidden. Gio wouldn't see it.
I changed my clothes, making sure my sleeves covered my arms. If I wore a sleeveless outfit, everyone would surely see the signs of my father's abuse.
The rest of the day went by peacefully.